Karnataka exporting 1,200 tonne of mangoes to US

Bengaluru, July 1 (IANS) Karnataka has bagged an order to export 1,200 tonne of mangoes to the US this season as its fruit varieties passed through stringent standards, a top official said on Friday.

“Though we got the order last week at the end of the mango season, we have enough stocks to export 1,000 tonnes and are procuring remaining quantity (200 tonne) to meet the demand,” Karnataka State Mango Development &amp; Marketing Corporation Ltd managing director Kadire Gowda told IANS here.

The state-run corporation has tied up with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) and Innova Agri Bio Park at Malur in Kolar district to ensure the export variety of mangoes meet the stringent quality standards in the US market.

“Gamma radiation treatment of mangoes is mandatory to meet the US regulatory norms for fruit exports from India, like vapour heat treatment for exporting to Japan and hot water treatment for Australia,” Gowda said.

The five-year-old corporation has exported about 6,000 tonnes of mangoes to Europe, Gulf region and South East Asia without any special treatment this season at Rs 60 per kg, excluding overheads and logistic charges, which are met by intermediary agents.

“The export order for the US market includes 500 tonne of Alphansoes and Banganapalli and 100 tonne each of Dusheri and Kesar variety. To promote our fruit in the US, we are charging same rate (Rs 60 per kg) as for other countries,” Gowda stated.

The corporation has also tie-up with 10 leading mango exporters in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune to secure firm orders for growers and farmers across the state and ensure they are rewarded with high price.

“Export to the US market will enable us to get similar orders from other countries like Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka and South Africa, which also have stringent quality control norms,” Gowda added.

As the third largest producer of the king of fruits after Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka produces 15-20 lakh tonne of mangoes in two-lakh hectares of land across the state, with Srinivasapura in Kolar district being the biggest producer.